BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 


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OF 

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OF  CALIFORNIA 


'WcT:'^:^:^viw:*ru 


CONSTITUTION  "  f 

"-' ''"""  OF  THE  J 

Western    Federation 
ox  Miners 

AftiliatedwitL  A.  F.  ofL. 

ADOPTED  AT 

BUTTE  CITY,  MONT. 

May  19,  1893 


Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1894. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1895. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1896. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1897. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1898. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1899. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1900. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1901. 
Amended  and  revised  at  Denver,  Colorado, 

November,  1901. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1902. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1903. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1904. 
Amended  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  1905. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  May,  1906. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  June,  4907. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1908. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1909. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1910. 
Amended  at  Butte,  Montana,  July,  1911. 
Amended  at  Victor,  Colorado,  July,  1912. 
Amended  at  Denver,  Colorado,  July,  1914. 


Great  ^Veste^n  Pub.  Co..  Denver 


.    ^     '1     1    I  I;  I;  />  U  ( 

lU7Jr 

PREAMBLE  /^/^ 

1  1.    We  hold  that  there  is  a  class  struggle  In 

2  Society  and  that  this  struggle  is  caused  by  eco- 

3  nomic  conditions. 

4  2.    We  affirm  the  economic  condition  of  the 

5  producer  to  be  that  he  is  exploited  of  the  wealth 

6  which  he    produces,   being   allowed   to   retain 

7  barely  sufficient  for  his  elementary  necessities. 

8  3.    We    hold    that    the    class    struggle    will 

9  continue  until  the  producer  is  recognized  as 

10  the  sole  master  of  his  product. 

11  4.    We  assert  that  the  working  class,  and 

12  it  alone,  can  and  must  achieve  its  own  eman- 

13  cipation. 

14  5.    We  hold,  finally,  that  an  industrial  union 

15  and  the  concerted  political  action  of  all  wage 

16  workers,  is  the  only  method  of  attaining  this 

17  end. 

18  6.    Therefore,    we,    the    wage    slaves,    em- 

19  ployed  in  and  around  the  mines,  mills,  smel- 

20  ters,  tunnels,  open  pits  and  open  cuts,  have 

21  associated     in     the     Western     Federation     of 

22  Miners. 


CONSTITUTION 


ARTICLE  I. 

1  Section  1.  This  organization  shall  be  known 

2  as  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

3  be   composed   of  all  persons   working  in  and 

4  around  mines,   mills,    smelters,   tunnels,   open 

5  pits  and  open  cuts,  organized  into  unions  pay- 

6  ing  per  capita  tax  to  the  Federation. 

7  Sec.    2.     The    objects    of    this    organization 

8  shall  be  to  unite  the  various  persons  working 

9  in  and  around  the  mines,  mills,  smelters,  tun- 

10  nels,  open  pits  and  open  cuts,  inlo  one  central 

11  body,  to  practice  those  virtues  that  adorn  so- 

12  ciety  and  remind  man  of  his  duty  to  his  fellow 

13  man,  the  elevation  of  his  position  and  the  main- 

14  tenance   of  the  rights   of  the  workers   to  in- 

15  crease  the  wages  and  improve  the  conditions  of 

16  employment    of    our   members    by    legislation, 

17  conciliation,  joint  agreements  or  strikes. 

18  Sec.  3.     Whenever  twenty  or  more  persons, 

19  working  as  specified  in  Section  1  of  this  article, 

20  shall    be    found    that   will    be    self-supporting, 

21  they  shall,  on  application,  be  granted  a  char- 

22  ter.     Provided  that  no  charter  shall  be  issued 

23  the  effect  of  which  is  to  segregate  the  crafts 

24  engaged  in  the  mining  industry. 

ARTICLE   II. 
Convention. 

25  Section  1.    This  Federation  shall  hold  its  bi- 

26  ennial  convention  on  the  third  Monday  in  July, 

27  at  such  place  as  the  convention  shall  designate 

28  before  adjournment  of  any  session  thereof. 

29  Sec.  2.      Each  union  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

30  delegate  for  one  hundred  members  or  less,  and 

31  one  for  each  additional  one  hundred  or  major- 

32  ity  fraction  thereof.   Provided,  no  delegate  shall 

33  in  any  event,  either  holding  proxy  votes  or  rep- 

34  resenting  a  union  entitled  to  a  greater  number, 

35  cast  more  than  five  votes. 


1  Sec.  3.     Representation  in  the  biennial  con- 

2  vention    shall    be   based   on    the   April   report 

3  prior  to  the  holding  of  the  convention,  and  the 

4  January  report  of  each  year  shall  be  an  annual 

5  report;  provided,  in  case  a  special  convention 

6  is  held,  the  representation  shall  be  based  on 

7  the  last  monthly  report  prior  to  the  calling  of 

8  the  special  convention. 

9  Sec.  4.    Each  union  shall  elect  a  delegate  or 

10  delegates  and  alternates  to  attend  the  biennial 

11  convention  of  the  Federation.     Such  delegates 

12  and  alternates  shall  be  nominated  and  elected 

13  in  compliance  with  Section  1,  Article  XIV  of 

14  the  Constitution,  and  said  election  of  delegates 

15  and  alternates  shall  take  place  at  the  semi-an- 

16  nual  election  of  all  local  unions,  the  first  meet- 

17  ing  in  June.    The  alternate  delegate  shall  only 

18  attend  and  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  conven- 

19  tion  when  the  regularly  elected  delegate  fails, 

20  refuses  or  is  unable  to  be  present  to  discharge 

21  his  duties.    To  be  eligible,  a  delegate  or  alter- 

22  nate  must  be  a  bona  fide  wage  worker  in  the 

23  jurisdiction  of  his  local  union,  or  one  who  is 

24  employed  by  his  local  union,  or  the  Western 

25  Federation  of  Miners,  having  a  membership  in 

26  good  standing  in  the  Western   Federation   of 

27  Miners  for  a  period  of  not  less  than  one  year, 

28  immediately  preceding  the  date  of  his  nomina- 

29  tion;  provided,  however,  that  the  provisions  of 

30  this  section  shall  not  apply  to  the  unions  and 

31  members  thereof  which  have  been  organized 

32  for  a  length  of  time  less  than  that  mentioned 

33  herein.     Delegates  shall  present  their  creden- 

34  tials  and  have  them  passed  upon  before  taking 

35  their  seats  in  the  convention.    Delegates  in  at- 

36  tendance  at  the  convention  and  absenting  them- 

37  selves   without   permission   from  the  sessions 

38  thereof  shall  not  be  entitled  to  their  per  diem 

39  for  any  day,  or  part  of  a  day,  upon  which  they 

40  were  absent.    Duplicate  credentials  must  be  in 

4 


1  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer  at  least 

2  fifteen  days  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  con- 

3  vention.     No  local  union  shall  be  entitled  to 

4  representation  in  the  convention  which  has  not 

5  complied  with  the  Constitution  of,  the  Federa- 

6  tion.    All  proxy  credential  certificates  must  be 

7  sent  direct  to  the  delegates  named  thereon,  and . 

8  the  duplicate  certificate  to  the  Secretary-Treas- 

9  urer  at  headquarters  fifteen  days  prior  to  the 

10  meeting  of  the  biennial  convention. 

11  Sec.   5.     Delegates  representing  a  majority 

12  of  the  unions  comprising  the  Federation  shall 

13  constitute  a  quorum. 

14  Sec.  6.     Ladies'  Auxiliaries  of  the  Western 

15  Federation  of  Miners  shall  be  entitled  to  one 

16  delegate  with  one  vote  for  each  auxiliary  in 

17  good  standing  and  transportation  expenses  for 

18  said  delegate  shall  be  paid  by  the  Federation. 

Pay  of  Delegates. 

19  Sec.  7.     The  pay  of  each  delegate  to  the  bi- 

20  ennial  convention  shall  not  be  less  than  $5.00 

21  per  day,  which  shall  be  paid  by  the  union  he 

22  represents. 

23  The  Federation  shall  pay  the  transportation 

24  expenses  of  one  delegate  from  each  union  in 

25  good  standing.    Any  union  electing  more  than 

26  one  delegate  shall  pay  transportation  expenses 

27  on  all  delegates   elected   above  that  number. 

28  Secretaries  of  all  local  unions  shall  insert  on 

29  credential  card  the  name  of  delegate  entitled 

30  to  mileage  at  headquarters. 

ARTICLE  III. 
Nomination  and  Election  of  Officers. 

31  Section   1.     The   officers    of   the   Federation 

32  shall  consist  of  the  President,  Vice-President, 

33  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  four  other  Executive 

34  Board  members,  all  of  whom  shall  be  elected 

35  by  a  vote  of  the  membership. 


1  Sec.   2.     The   call,   with   blanks   for   nomina- 

2  tions,  shall  be  Issued  by  the  Secretary-Treas- 

3  urer  on  the  first  day  of  March  in  each  even 

4  numbered  year.    Each  local  may  nominate  one 

5  candidate  for  each  office,  but  the  name  of  no 

6  candidate  shall  be  placed  on  the  ballot  unless 

7  nominated  by  at  least  five  locals. 

8  Sec.    3.    The    returns,   of    the    nominations 

9  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

10  urer  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners  not 

11  later  than  the  15th  day  of  April;  provided,  that 

12  any  local  that  cannot  be  reached  by  mail  may 

13  use  telegraph  or  other  means  of  communica- 

14  tion. 

15  Sec.  4.     The    Secretary-Treasurer   shall    im- 

16  mediately  notify  each  nominee  of  his  nomina- 

17  tion,  and  his  acceptance,  together  with  a  state- 

18  ment  certifying  to  the  eligibility  of  the  nom- 

19  inee  for  the  office  for  which  he  is  nominated 

20  according  to  the  provisions  of  this  Constitution, 

21  must  be  in  the  hands  of  the  Secretar^-Treas- 

22  urer  not  later  than  May  10th. 

23  Sec.  5.     The  Secretary-Treasurer  shall  send 

24  to  each  local  union  a  sufficient  number  of  bal- 

25  lots  for  the  members  thereof  on  which  shall  be 

26  printed  in  full  the  names  of  all  eligible  candi- 

27  dates.    The  voting  shall  take  place  at  the  regu- 

28  lar  June  election  of  that  year. 

29  Sec.  6.    The  Secretaries  of  the  local  unions 

30  shall  immediately  after  election  send  the  bal- 

31  lots  and  returns  of  the  election  to  headquar- 

32  ters,  said  returns  to  be  signed  by  the  judges  of 
iio  election,  countersigned  by  the  Secretary  and 

34  bear  the  seal  of  the  local  union.     The  returns 

35  shall  be  sent  to  headquarters  in  a  special  en- 

36  velope    provided    by    headquarters    on    which 

37  shall  be  printed  the  words  "Election  Returns," 

38  these  returns  and  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact 

39  until  the  convening  of  the  Convention. 

40  Sec.  7.    At  the  Convention  a  committee  of 

6 


1  three  shall  be  elected  to  canvass  the  returns, 

2  the  ballots  to  be  held  intact  until  the  close  of 

3  the  Convention,  after  which,  if  no  contest  is 

4  made,  these  ballots  shall  be  destroyed. 

5  Sec.  8.     For  the  offices  of  President,  Vice- 

6  President   and   Secretary-Treasurer  the  candi- 

7  dates  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes 

8  for  each  of  those  respective   offices  shall  be 

9  elected,  and  the  four  candidates  for  Executive 

10  Board    members    receiving    the    four    highest 

11  number  of  votes  shall  be  declared  elected. 

12  Sec.  9.    All  officers  elected  to  be  installed 

13  at  the  Convention  or,  if  absent,  as  soon  there- 

14  after  as  possible,  and  they  shall  take  office  on 

15  the  1st  day  of  September  following. 

16  Sec.  10.     Delegates  to  the  American  Feder- 

17  ation  of  Labor  Convention  shall  be  elected  an- 

18  nually,   according  to  the  same  provisions   for 

19  the  election  of  officers  in  the  biennial  election. 

20  Sec.  11.     The  candidates  receiv- 

21  ing  the highest  number  of  votes  shall 

22  be  declared  elected. 

23  Sec.  12.     The  candidates  receiv- 

24  ing  the  next highest  number  of  votes 

25  shall  be  declared  alternates. 

26  Sec.    13.     Delegates    to    the    American    Fed- 

27  eration  of  Labor  shall  receive  the  same  pay  as 

28  Delegates  to  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners' 

29  Convention. 

30  Sec.    14.     To    be    eligible    to    any    elective 

31  office,  or  Delegate  to  the  American  Federation 

32  of   Labor   Convention,   the   same   qualification 

33  shall    be   required   as   those   provided   in   this 

34  Constitution  for  Delegates  to  the  Western  Fed- 

35  eration  of  Miners'  Convention. 

36  Sec.    15.      All    nominations    shall    be    open 

37  in  each  local  the  first  meeting  in  March  and 

38  remain  open  for  three  regular  meetings.     The 

39  choice  of  the  local  shall  be  determined  through 

40  elecion    by    ballot.      Said    nomination    election 

41  to  be  held  on  the  day  of  the  fourth  regular 

7 


1  meeting  in   March.     The   polls    shall   be   held 

2  open  on  election  day  from  9  a.  m.  to  9  p.  m.  in 

3  all  locals  and  notice  of  said  election  shall  be 

4  given  by  posting  same  in  the  local's  office  and 

5  hall  and  inserting  in  the  local  press  wherever 

6  possible.  The  candidates  receiving  the  highest 

7  number   of   votes   in   the   nomination   election 

8  shall  be  declared  the  nominee  of  the  local. 

Recall  of  Officers. 

9  Sec.   16.     On   petition   for  the   recall   of  an 

10  official  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners 

11  signed  by  not  less  than  ten  per  cent  of  the 

12  membership  of  the  Federation  in  good  stand- 

13  ing  from  not  less  than  ten  local  unions  of  the 

14  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  it  shall  be  the 

15  imperative  duty  of  the  Executive  Board  to  call 

16  for  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  member- 

17  ship  in  the  manner  provided  for  in  Section  10, 

18  Article  IV. 

ARTICLE  IV. 


Duties  of  President. 

19  Section  1.     It  is  the  duty  of  the  President  to 

20  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  Federation,  pre- 
uj.  serve  order,  enforce  the  Constitution  and  watch 

22  vigilantly  over  the  interests  and  affairs  of  the 

23  Federation.    In  this  he  shall  be  assisted  by  all 

24  the  officers  of  the  Federation.     He  shall  have 

25  the  right  to  vote  at  the  election  of  officers,  and 

26  when  the  members  are  equally  divided  he  shall 

27  have  the  deciding  vote  on  the  question  under 

28  consideration.    He  shall  sign  all  orders  drawn 

29  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  in  complance  with 

30  a  vote  of  the  majority  at  any  session  of  the 

31  Executive  Board.     He  shall,  with  the  approval 

32  of  the  Executive  Board,  fill  all  vacancies  occur- 

33  ring  in  the  Executive  Board,  or  in  the  offices 

34  of  Vice-President  and  Secretary-Treasurer.    He 

35  may,  with  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board, 


1  appoint  such  organizers  as  the  condition  of  the 

2  Federation  may  justify.     Said  organizers  shall 

3  at  all  times  act  under  the  instructions  of  the 

4  President,  and  they  shall  receive  not  less  than 

5  $100.00  per  month  for  such  time  as  they  are 

6  actually    employed,   together   with   transporta- 

7  tion  expenses,  and  they  shall  report  to  the  of- 

8  fice  of  the  Federation  in  writing  at  least  once 

9  each  week,  while  in  the  employ  of  the  Federa- 

10  tion  as  organizers.     The  President  shall  visit 

11  each  district  once  each  year,  and  visit  as  many 

12  unions  as  the  conditions  of  the  Federation  will 

13  permit;  and  he  may  also  examine  the  books  of 

14  any  union  he  visits,  provided  he  has  time  so 

15  to  do,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  each  union  is 

16  paying  its   share   of  the   maintenance   of  the 

17  Federation.  He  shall  communicate  with  persons 

18  living  in  places  where  the  Federation  does  not 

19  exist,  and  have  them  organized,  if  possible.  He 

20  may  convene  the  Executive  Board  when,  in  his 

21  opinion,  the  affairs  of  the  Federation  will  justi- 

22  fy  the  same;  and  he  may,  with  the  approval  of 

23  the  Executive  Board,  call  an  extra  convention 

24  of  the  Federation,  and  he  shall,  on  the  written 

25  request  of  six  members  of  the  Executive  Board 

26  or  on  written  request  of  ten  unions  having  a 

27  combined  membership  of  7,500,  call  an  extra 

28  convention  of  the  Federation,    --e  shall  be  and 

29  he  is   hereby  constituted  the  trustee  to   sell, 

30  transfer  or  encumber  in  any  manner  and  to 

31  any  extent  that  he  deems  for  the  best  interests 

32  of  the  Federation,  any  and  all  real  and  per- 

33  sonal  property,  except  the  funas  of  the  Western 

34  Federation   of   Miners,    with   the    concurrence 

35  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Executive  Board 

36  of  the  Federation,  or  a  convention  duly  called 

37  and  assembled,  and  he  shall  execute  all  such 

38  documents  in  manner  following:     The  Western 

39  Federation  of  Miners,  by ,  Trustee. 

40  He  shall  submit  a  complete  report  of  his  work 

41  during  the  term  of  his  office  to  each  conven- 

42  tion,  and  make  such  recommendations  as   in 

9 


1  his  judgment  will  advance  the  interests  of  the 

2  organization.     The   President    shall   have   the 

3  power,    with    the    consent    of    the    Executive 

4  Board,  to  revoke  the  charter  of  or  penalize  any 

5  local  union  for  violation  of  the  Constitution,  or 

6  proven  treachery  to  the  principles  of  the  West- 

7  em  Federation  of  Miners.    The  President  shall 

8  have  power  on  petition  of  ten  per  cent  of  the 

9  members  in  good  standing  in  their  respective 

10  locals  making  charges  in  writing  against  their 

11  local  officers  to  take  complete  charge  of  the 

12  local's  affairs,  and  if  the  charges  are  proven 

13  he  shall  call  a  special  election  within  thirty 

14  days  and  place  the  local's  affairs  on  a  business 

15  basis   before  relinquishing  to  local's  officials. 

16  He  shall  receive  $5.00  per  day  for  his  services, 

17  besides  such  an  additional  amount  as  may  be 

18  necessary    to    defray    his    transportation    and 

19  other  expenses. 

Duties  of  Vice  President. 

20  Sec.  2.    It  is  the  duty  of  the  Vice-President 

21  to  assist  the  President  to  preserve  order  at 

22  all  meetings  and  assist  him  in  the  discharge 

23  of  his  duties;  preside  during  his  absence,  and 

24  perform  the  duties  devolving  upon  the  Presi- 

25  dent;  and  in  case  of  vacancy  occurring  in  the 

26  office    of   President,    he    shall   ascend    to    the 

27  Presidency  and  act  as  such  for  the  unexpired 

28  term. 

Duties  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer. 

29  Sec.  3.     It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secre- 

30  tary-Treasurer  to  attend  all  conventions  of  the 

31  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  bring  there- 

32  to  all  the  necessary  books,  papers,  and  docu- 

33  ments   pertaining   to    his    office,    and    keep    a 

34  proper  and  correct  record  of  the  proceedings 

35  of  the  convention;    read  all  petitions,  resolu- 

36  tions  and  commimlcations,  not  in  charge  of  a 

10 


1  special  committee,  which  may  be  submitted  to 

2  the   Federation,   file   and   safely   keep,   unless 

3  otherwise    ordered,    all    papers    or    documents 

4  which  have  been  before  the  convention.     At 

5  each   biennial   meeting  of   the   convention   he 

6  shall  submit  a  complete  report  of  the  receipts 

7  and  disbursements  of  the  Federation  for  the 

8  preceding  year,  number  of  unions  organized, 

9  number  in  good  standing  and  the  number  of 

10  unions  disbanded,  if  any,  and  the  cause  thereof. 

11  If  ordered  by  the  convention,  he  shall  cause  to 

12  be  printed  duly  authenticated  copies  of  the  pro- 

13  ceedings  of  the  convention  and  furnish  each 

14  local  union  with  a  copy  thereof.    He  shall  pre- 

15  pare,  sign  and  seal  all  charters  and  such  other 

16  papers  and  documents  as  may  emanate  from 

17  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  which 

18  are    required    to    be    duly    authenticated.      He 

19  shall,  at  the  end  of  each  quarter,  send  a  re- 

20  port  to  each  local  union,  showing  the  receipts, 

21  and  the  dates  thereof,  of  all  moneys  received 

22  from  the  local  unions  for  the  preceding  quarter. 

23  All  moneys  coming  into  his  hands  belonging  to 

24  the    Federation    shall    be    deposited,    at    least 

25  twice  a  month,  in  some  solvent  bank  or  banks, 

26  and  shall  only  be  drawn  out  to  pay  indebted- 

27  ness  arising  out  of  the  due  conducting  of  the 

28  business  of  the  Federation,  and  then  only  after 

29  a  bill  shall  have  been  first  duly  presented  by 

30  the  creditor,  when  in  payment  thereof  a  check 

31  shall  be  drawn  and  signed  by  him,  after  which 

32  he  shall  present  it,  together  with  the  bill,  to 

33  the  President   for   his   counter-signature.     He 

34  shall  have  charge  of  all  the  funds  and  property 

35  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  and  shall 

36  keep  a  careful  and  accurate  account  thereof,  as 

37  well  as  an  accurate  account  of  all  funds  arising 

38  out  of  the  relation  of  the  Federation  with  the 

39  local  unions,  and  whenever  money  is  received 

40  from  a  local  union,  a  receipt  therefor  must  be 

41  given  or  mailed  to  the  sender.  He  shall  prompt- 

42  ly  attend  to  all  correspondence  pertaining  to 

11 


1  his  office,  and  within  the  first  week  of  May  of 

2  each  year  he  shall  send  to  each  union  which  is 

3  not   indebted   to   the   Federation   for   moneys, 

4  which  it  should  have  paid  under  the  Constitu- 

5  tion,  duplicate  credentials  for  delegates.    Upon 

6  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  or  retire- 

7  ment  from  any  cause  he  shall  faithfully  account 

8  for  all  money  or  property  coming  into  his  hands 

9  and   all   funds   or   property   remaining-  in   his 

10  hands  or  not  paid  out  or  disposed  of  or  in  due 

11  course  of  the  discharge  of  his  official  duties,  it 

12  shall  be  accounted  for  and  turned  over  to  his 

13  successor  or  such  other  person  who  may  be 

14  duly  authorized  to  take  into  his   custody  the 

15  funds  or  property  of  the  Federation.     For  the 

16  honest  and  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  he 

17  shall  give  a  bond  in  the  sum  of  not  less  than 

18  $30,000,  the  bond  so  given  to  be  approved  by 

19  the  Executive  Board  and  kept  in  their  custody. 

20  For  his  services  he  shall  receive  the  sum  of 

21  one  hundred  and  fifty  (150)  dollars  per  month, 

22  which  may  be  paid  monthly  out  of  the  funds  of 

23  the  Federation,  in  the  same  manner  as  is  pro- 

24  vided  for  the  payment  of  other  bills  and  in- 

25  debtedness.     He  shall  issue  a  supplement  to 

26  his  quarterly  report  of  all  members  suspended, 

27  fined  or  expelled  during  the  quarter. 

Executive  Board. 

27  Sec.   4.     The   Executive   Board   shall   consti- 

28  tute  the   Federation  board  of  arbitration  and 

29  conciliation,  and  between  conventions  have  full 

29  power  to  direct  the  workings  of  the  Federa- 

30  tion.    No  representative  of  a  union  shall  be  en- 

31  titled  to  a  hearing  before  the  Executive  Board 

32  without   proper   credentials,   with  the   seal   of 

33  the  union  attached  thereto. 

34  Sec.  5.     The  Executive  Board  shall  be  con- 

35  vened  by  the  President,  or  by  the  Secretary- 

36  Treasurer  at  the  request  of  three  members  of 

37  the  Board. 

38  Sec.    6.    The    jurisdiction    of    the    Western 

12 


1  Federation  of  Miners   shall  cover  the  United 

2  States  and  its  territories,  and  the  Dominion  of 

3  Canada. 

4  Sec.    7.     Each    member    of    the    Executive 

5  Board  shall  act  as  an  organizer  and  he  shall 

6  also  be   required  to  make  such  investigation 

7  relative  to  the  condition  of  each  local  union 

8  as    in    his   judgment   may    be    necessary,   and 

9  make  a  report  thereof  to  the  President  of  the 

10  Federation  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  June 

11  of  each  year.    In  case  of  trouble  arising  in  the 

12  jurisdiction  of  a  union,  the  member  shall  be 

13  summoned  and  given  full  charge  in  the  direc- 

14  tion   or  negotiations   until  the  arrival   of  the 

15  President,  who  shall  be  summoned  if  necessary. 

16  For  all  necessary  services  rendered  in  the  dis- 

17  charge  of  his  duties,  he  shall  receive  the  sum 

18  of  $4.00  per  day  and  legitimate  expenses  for 

19  such  time  as  he  is  actually  employed,  together 

20  with  his  transportation  expenses,  and  he  shall 

21  at  all  times  be  subject  to  the  orders  of  the 

22  President. 

23  Sec.  8.     The  Executive  Board  members  shall 

24  be  placed  on  continuous  pay,  and  kept  in  the 

25  field  constantly,  and  be  at  all  times  under  the 

26  direction   of  the    President,   who   shall   direct 

27  their  actions   in   the   field,   and    shall   require 

28  each  member  to  report  weekly  the  result  of  his 

29  work,  and  to  audit  the  books  of  all  locals  he 

30  may  visit  and  make  a  thorough  report  on  con- 

31  dition  of  same. 

32  Sec.  9.    All  members  of  the  Executive  Board 

33  and    organizers    employed    by   the    Federation 

34  shall  submit  monthly  reports  for  publication  in 

35  the  Miners'  Magazine,  these  reports  to  contain 

36  matters  of  interest  to  the  general  organization. 

37  Sec.  10.     The  Executive  Board  shall,  on  de- 

38  mand  of  ten  or  more  locals,  submit  all  such 

39  matters  pertaining  to  such  proposition  to  a  ref- 

40  erendum  vote  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer, 

41  not  later  than  fifteen  days  after  receipt  there- 

42  of;  provided  that  no  such  referendum  shall  be 

13 


1  submitted  which  is  a  reversal  of  a  former  ref- 

2  erendum  within   one   year.     The  majority   of 

3  such  vote  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  con- 

4  cerned. 

5  Sec.    11.      The    Executive    Board    members 

6  shall  be  delegates  at  large  to  the  convention 

7  and  entitled  to  the  same  privileges  as  other 

8  delegates  at  the  convention. 

9  Sec.    12.     The    Executive   Board    shall   have 

10  the  books  and  accounts  of  the  Secretary-Treas- 

11  urer  audited  semi-annually  by  a  firm  of  chart- 

12  ered  accountants,   and  a  copy  of  their  report 

13  shall  be  forwarded  to  each  local  union  as  soon 

14  as  possible  after  the  audit  is  made. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Local   Union  Auditors. 

15  Section  1.    The  President  shall  appoint,  with 

16  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board,  one  or 

17  more  auditors  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  audit 

18  the  books  and  accounts  of  all  unions  of  the 

19  Federation,  and  to  render  to  the  President  a 

20  report  of  his  findings  in  each  case. 

21  Sec.  2.     Such  auditor  shall  be  at  all  times 

22  under  the  direction  of  the  President.    He  must 

23  be  a  competent  bookkeeper  and  a  member  of 

24  the  Federation  in  good  standing.    It  shall  also 

25  be  his  duty  to  collect  for  the  use  of  the  Fed- 

26  eration  such  statistics  as  may  be  determined 

27  by    the   President    and    Executive    Board    and 

28  whenever    possible    solicit    subscriptions    ani 

29  advertising  for  the  Miners'  Magazine. 

Reports  of  A.  F.  of  L.  Delegates. 

30  Sec.  3.     Delegates  to  the  A.  F.  of  L.  conven- 

31  tion  shall  represent  the  Western  Federation  of 

32  Miners  in  convention  of  the  American  Federa- 

33  tion  of  Labor  and  shall  render  a  report  to  the 

34  President  of  the  W.  F.  M.  within  thirty  days 

14 


1  after  the  adjournment  of  the  A.  F.  of  L.  con- 

2  vention. 

ARTICLE  VI. 
Revenues  and    Disbursements. 

3  Sec.  1.     The  revenue  of  the  Federation  shall 

4  be  derived  from  a  charter  fee  of  ten  dollars 

5  and  a  per  capita  tax  of  twenty-five  cents  per 

6  month  on  all  monthly  dues  collected  in  accord- 

7  ance  with  the  stamp  system,  to  be  paid  from 

8  the  general  fund   of  each  union  through  the 

9  purchase  of  said  stamps  in  advance,  and  such 

10  assessments  as  may  be  levied  by  an  interna- 

11  tional  convention  or  a  referendum  vote  of  the 

12  members  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners 

13  or  by  the  International  Executive  Board  for  a 

14  period  of  two  months  pending  the  referendum 

15  vote.    The  same  shall  be  paid  from  the  general 

16  fund,  and  based  on  the  preceding  monthly  re- 

17  port  previous  to  such  assessment. 

18  Sec.  2.     There  shall  be  levied  a  fifty  cents 

19  assessment  every  three  months  of  each  year, 

20  at  such   time  when   no   other  general   assess- 

21  ment  is  on,  to  be  known  as  Protective  Assess- 

22  ment  for  strike  benefit,  levied  as  follows:    Sep- 

23  tember,  December,  March  and  June. 

24  Sec.  3.     Any  union  failing  to  purchase  the 

25  required    number    of    per    capita    and    assess- 

26  ment  stamps  to  stamp  all  membership  cards, 

27  in   compliance   with   the   stamp   system,    shall 

28  be    penalized    as     prescribed    by    Section     1, 

29  Article  X. 

30  Sec.  4.     Special  reinstatement  stamps  shall 

31  be  provided    by    headquarters,    locals    to    be 

32  charged  two   dollars    ($2.00)    each  per  stamp, 

33  and  required  to  put  such  reinstatement  stamp 

34  on  the  membership  card  of  each  member  pay- 

35  ing  a  reinstatement  fee. 

15 


ARTICLE  VII. 
Official  Journal. 

1  Section    1.     The    Journal     shall     be    issued 

2  weekly    under   the    direct    supervision    of   the 

3  General     Executive     Board.       The     Executive 

4  Board   shall   have   the   power   to   appoint   the 

5  Editor  of  the  Miners'  Magazine. 

6  Sec.    2.     The   pages   of  the   official   journal 

7  shall  be  open  to  all  officers  and  members  of 

8  the   organization  for   the   discussion   of   social 

9  affairs,  industrial,  economic  and  political  ques- 

10  tions,  or  any  other  questions  pertaining  to  the 

11  interest  of  the  working-class.  It  shall  endeavor 

12  to  enlighten  the  membership  of  the  organiza- 

13  tion  on  the  cost  of  production  of  the  various 

14  kinds   of  metals;    viz.:    iron,    steel,   lead,   zinc 

15  and   copper,    and   its   market   value.     It   shall 

16  endeavor    to    give    statistics     showing    what 

17  wages  are  being  paid  to  the  miners,  millmen 

18  and  smeltermen  and  steel  workers  in  the  dif- 

19  ferent  states  and  territories  in  the  jurisdiction 

20  of  the  Western  Federation  o£  Miners.  It  further 

21  shall   endeavor  to  demonstrate  what   relation 

22  there  exists  between  one  set  of  workers  and 

23  another  set  of  workers,  especially  those  work- 

24  ers  who  are  engaged  in  the  production  of  coal, 

25  iron,   steel,   lead,   zinc  and   copper,  and  other 

26  precious  metals,  and  it  shall  at  all  times  ad- 

27  vocate  the  principles  of  Industrial  Unionism. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 
Strikes  and  Adjustments. 

28  Section    1.     It    shall    be    unlawful    for    any 

29  union  to  enter  upon  a  strike  unless  ordered 

30  by  two-thirds  of  the  votes  cast  upon  the  ques- 

31  tion;  such  questions  shall  be  decided  by  refer- 

32  endum  vote,  notice  of  such  referendum  to  be 

33  posted  three  days  in  advance,  vote  to  be  by 

16 


1  ballot  and  polls  to  be  open  for  not  less  than 

2  eight  hours.    No  call  shall  be  made  for  a  refer- 

3  endum  vote  on  a  strike  until  after  having  re- 

4  ceived  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board  of 

5  the  W.  F.  M. 

6  Sec.  2.     In  case  of  a  strike  being  in  progress 

7  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Federation,  where  a 

8  union  or  unions  of  the  Federation  is  on  strike, 

9  regularly  ordered  by  the  union  or  unions  and 

10  the  Executive  Board,  and  in  the  opinion  of  the 

11  President  and  the  Executive  Board  it  becomes 

12  necessarj^  to  call  out  any  other  union  or  unions 

13  in  order  to  carry  the   strike  to  a  successful 

14  termination,  that  they  shall  have  full  power  to 

15  do  so. 

16  Sec.  3.    Whenever  a  strike  shall  be  approved 

17  by   the  Executive   Board   and   local   union   or 

18  unions  as  authorized  by  Section  1  of  Article 

19  VIII,  the  President  shall  appoint,  with  the  con- 

20  sent  of  the  Executive  Board,  a  representative 

21  of  the  Federation  to  take  charge  of  the  funds 

22  furnished  by  the  Federation  for  the  relief  of 

23  members   involved   in   said   strike  or   lockout. 

24  The  representative  so  chosen  shall  file  a  bond 

25  with  the  Executive  Board,   subject  to  its  ap- 

26  proval,  in  such  sum  or  sums  as  the  Board  may 

27  determine,   he   shall   make   complete   itemized 

28  returns   of  all   receipts   and    expenditures,   in- 

29  eluding  a  list  of  the  persons  aided  to  the  Sec- 

30  retary-Treasurer  and  through  him  to  the  Ex- 

31  ecutive  Board. 

32  Sec.    4.     Local    unions    or    groups    of    local 

33  unions  may  enter  into  wage  agreements  for  a 

34  specified  time,  providing  such  agreements  havs 

35  the  approval  of  the  Executive  Board.     Nego- 

36  tiations  for  agreements  must  be  made  between 

37  the  representative  of  the  local  or  locals  affect- 

38  ed,  and  the  employers,  with  at  least  one  mem- 

39  ber  of  the  Executive  Board,  or  representative 

40  of  the  general  organization  present. 

i 
17 


ARTICLE    IX. 
New  Unions. 

1  Section  1.    Whenever  twenty  or  more  union 

2  men  shall  be  so  situated  within  the  jurisdiction 

3  of  a  union  that  the  attendance  at  the  meetings 

4  of  such  union  would  be  inconvenient,  they  may 

5  apply  to  the  President  of  the  Federation  for  a 

6  charter.     Should  he  consider  their  application 

7  a  proper  one  for  the  advancement,  both  of  the 

8  interests  of  the  applicants  and  the  Federation, 

9  a  charter  shall  be  granted  them  and  their  terri- 

10  torial  jurisdiction  defined.     If  such  applicants 

11  are  members  they  must  apply  to  their  respect- 

12  ive  unions  for  transfer  cards,  through  the  sec- 

13  retary-elect.    Any  union  refusing  to  issue  such 

14  cards  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine,  the  amount  of 

15  which  shall  be  vxctermined  by   the  Executive 

16  Board. 

ARTICLE  X. 
Penalties. 

17  Section  1.    Any  union  failing  to  make  cor- 

18  rect  monthly  reports  to  the   Secretary-Treas- 

19  urer   of  the   Federation,   thereby    evading   its 

20  just  share  of  the  per  capita  tax  and  assess- 

21  ments,  shall  be  fined  for  each  offense  a  sum 

22  equal  to  double  the  amount  so  evaded. 

23  Sec.    2.     Any   local    union   whose    Secretary 

24  fails  to  place  the  required  number  of  per  capita 

25  or   general   assessment   stamps   upon   a  mem- 

26  ber's  card  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  one  dol- 

27  lar  for  each  stamp  not  so  placed. 

28  Sec.   3.     Any   local   union   whose    Secretary 

29  fails  to  forward  to  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of 

30  the  Federation  properly  filled  out  monthly  and 

31  annual  reports  within  twenty  days  after  the 

32  same  become  due,  shall  be  advertised  in  the 

18 


1  Miners*  Magazine.    This  section  shall  not  apply 

2  to  local  unions  in  Alaska. 

ARTICLE  XI. 
Duties  and   Privileges  of  Members. 

3  Section  1.     Each  member  at  initiation  shall 

4  pledge  himself  to  support  the  Constitution  of 

5  the  Federation  and  obey  all  lawful  orders  of 

6  the  Executive  Board,  in  addition  to  the  obli- 

7  gation  required  by  the  union  of  which  he  be- 

8  comes  a  member. 

9  Sec.  2.     If  a  member  of  a  union  commits  an 

10  offense  in  violation  of  his  obligation  or  against 

11  the   good  and  welfare  of  the   Federation,   his 

12  union  or  any  union  of  the  Western  Federation 

13  of  Miners,  the  general  officers,  members  of  the 

14  Executive  Board,  or  any  members  of  the  Fed- 

15  eration,  or  in  violation  of  the  Constitution  of 

16  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  or  affiliated 

17  unions,   he   shall   be   entitled  to   an   impartial 

18  trial  by  his  local  union  as  herinafter  provided. 

19  The  offense  of  which  he  is  charged  shall  be 

20  presented  in  writing  to  his  local  union  by  the 

21  members  making  the  charge  who  at  the  time 

22  must  be  a  member  of  the  Western  Federation 

23  of  Miners  in  good  standing,  said  charges  shall 

24  be   read   by   the   Recording   Secretary   of   the 

25  union,  at  tne  first  regular  meeting  of  the  union 

26  after  the  paper  containing  the  charges  are  re- 

27  ceived.    When  said  charges  are  read  the  Pres- 

28  ident  shall,  without  discussion,  appoint  an  im- 

29  partial  committee  of  five  members  of  the  union 

30  in  good  standing  to  investigate  such  charges 

31  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  present  a  copy  of  the 

32  charges    to    the    member    against    whom    the 

33  charges  have  been  preferred,  and  notify  him 

34  when  to  appear  before  said  committee  for  trial. 

35  Similar  notice  shall  be  served  upon  the  mem- 

36  ber   preferring  the   charges.     This  committee 

37  shall   elect   a  chairman   and   secretary  before 

19 


1  proceeding  to  hear  evidence  for  the  plaintiff 

2  and  defendant  and  keep  a  correct  copy  of  the 

3  charges  and  all  testimony  presented  and  sub- 

4  mit  the  same  to  the  union  with  their  written 

5  report  signed  by  all  members  of  the  committee. 

6  The  union  shall  either  adopt  or  reject  the  re- 

7  port  of  the  committee.    Either  the  plaintiff  or 

8  defendant  shall  have  the  right  to  appeal  to  the 

9  Executive  Board  of  the  Western  Federation  of 

10  Miners  and  from  that  body  to  the  ensuing  con- 

11  vention.    The  Executive  Board  shall  receive  no 

12  evidence  in  the  case  except  the  records  of  the 

13  committee  nor  permit  any  witness  to  appear 

14  for    the    plaintiff    or    defendant.      Should    the 

15  union  fail  to  preserve  the  records  of  the  in- 

16  vestigation  as  returned   by  the  committee  or 

17  refuse  to  surrender  the  same  to  the  Executive 

18  Board,   upon   request   of   the    Secretary-Treas- 

19  urer  it  shall  be  subject  to  whatever  penalty 

20  the  Executive  Board  may  deem  necessary  to 

21  impose  upon  it. 

22  Sec.  3.     The  convention  shall  have  the  power 

23  to  bring  any  official  of  the  Federation,  dele- 

24  gate,  or  member  of  the  Federation  before  the 

25  bar  of  the  convention  for  trial.     The  conven- 

26  tion    shall    choose    its    method    of    procedure, 

27  have  full  power  to  record  and  enforce  its  ver- 

28  diet.  From  its  decision  there  shall  be  no  appeal. 

29  Sec.  4.    Any  one  acting  as  a  strike-breaker 

30  or  scab  during  a  strike  in  the  jurisdiction  of 

31  the  Western   Federation  of  Miners,  who  pro- 

32  fesses  to  have  seen  theT  error  of  his  ways,  may 

33  be  placed  on  probation  by  the  local  union  in- 

34  volved,  or  by  any  local  union  in  whose  juris- 

35  diction  he  may  be  employed  when  such  charges 

36  are  preferred  against  him,  provided  the  local 

37  involved  grants  permission;  provided,  that  this 

38  shall  in  no  way  apply  to  any  man  who  ha^ 

39  been  a  deputy  sheriff  or  gun  man  in  the  em- 

40  ploy  of  any  corporation.     Such  men  shall  re- 

41  main  on  probation  until  such  time  as  the  local 

20 


1  union,  in  whose  jurisdiction  he  is  working  out 

2  his  probation  shall  declare  his  offense  expiated 

3  in  full  by  good  work  for  the  cause. 

4  In  case  of  a  union  being  defunct,  the  Execu- 

5  tive    Officers    of   the   Western    Federation    of 

6  Miners    shall   be   governed   by  this   provision. 

7  The  card  issued  on  probation  shall  be  marked 

8  "probation  card." 

9  Sec.  5.    Whenever  any  member  or  members 

10  of  a  local  union  shall  be  discharged  for  actively 

11  participating  in  the  affairs  of  the  local  union, 

12  or  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  or  on 

13  account  of  his  race,  color,  religious  or  political 

14  beliefs,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  local  union 

15  to  investigate  fully  and  use  all  means  in  their 

16  power  to  have  such  member  or  members  re- 

17  instated  in  their  former  positions. 

18  Sec.  6.    Whenever  any  local  or  district  union 

19  shall  enter  into  any  agreement  or  contract  with 

20  their    employers,   the    principles    embodied    in 

21  Section  5  of  this  article  shall  be  made  a  part 

22  of  such  agreement  or  contract. 

23  Sec.  7.    Whenever  a  member  of  a  local  union 

24  shall  become  a  foreman,  shift  boss  or  assume 

25  a  position  that  cannot  be  termed  as  part  of 

26  the  mining  inuustry,  he  shall  lose  all  rights  to 

27  a  voice,  vote  or  seat  in  the  meetings  of  his 

28  local  union,  but  may  continue  his  membership 

29  as  a  beneficiary  member,  or  upon  application 

30  to  the  Financial  Secretary  he  may  be  granted 

31  a  withdrawal  card. 

32  Sec.  8.     Any  member  who  has  been  unem- 

33  ployed  for  one  clear  calendar  month,  or  more, 

34  in  the  jurisdiction  of  any  local,  may  retain  full 

35  membership    upon    payment    of    the    regular 

36  monthly  dues,  all  assessments  for  the  stated 

37  period   being   liquidated   by  means   of   "unem- 

38  ployed  stamps'*  provided  for  the  purpose.    The 

39  unemployed  member  must  obtain  the  stamps  or 

40  stamp  from  the  Secretary  of  the  local  in  whose 

41  jurisdiction  he  is  idle  for  the  required  period. 

21 


LOCAL   UNIONS  AND   MEMBERS. 


ARTICLE  XII. 
Receipts  and  Accounts. 

1  Sec.  1.     Local  unions  shall  preserve  all  re- 

2  ceipts  issued  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer  and 

3  have  the  same  presented  to  the  finance  com- 

4  mittee    at    the    biennial    convention,    through 

5  their  delegates  to  the  convention,  in  order  to 

6  compare  them  with  the  stub  book  of  the  Sec- 

7  retary-Treasurer. 

Password. 

8  Sec.   2.     The   President   shall   send   to   each 

9  union  which  has  paid  per  capita  tax  and  is  not 

10  ninety  days  in  arrears  for  assessments,  a  quar- 

11  terly  password. 

Membership  Card. 

12  Sec.  3.     Throughout  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

13  Western  Federation  of  Miners  a  uniform  mem- 

14  bership  card  shall  be  used.    The  same  shall  be 

15  the  stamp  card  system,  approved  by  the  Tenth 

16  and  amended  by  the  Sixteenth  Annual  Conven- 

17  tion;    the  form  and  style  of  said  cards   shall 

18  provide  a  space  wherein  local  Secretaries  shall 

19  record  the  amount  of  sick  benefits  received  by 

20  each  member.    Said  card  shall  be  designed  by 

21  the  Executive  Officers  of  the  Western  Federa- 

22  tion  of  Miners. 

Withdrawal  Cards. 

23  Sec.   4.    If   a   member   takes   a   withdrawal 

24  card  from  the  union  to  which  he  belongs  and 

22 


1  goes  to  work  as  specified  in  Section  1,  Article 

2  I,  of  the  Constitution,  where  there  is  a  union 

3  of  the  Federation,  he  shall  at  once  deposit  his 

4  card  in  that  union;  failing  to  do  so,  he  shall  be 

5  held  for  dues  and  assessments  from  the  time 

6  he  starts  to  work  by  the  union  within  whose 

7  jurisdiction  he  may  be  employed. 

8  Sec.  5.     No  withdrawal  card  shall  be  issued 

9  to  any  member  of  the  W.  P.  M.  except  such 

10  members  who  are  actually  engaged  in  some  oc- 

11  cupation  not  included  in  the  jurisdiction  of  the 

12  W.  F.  M.,  or  one  who  permanently  retires  from 

13  the   occupation   specified   in   Article   I   of   the 

14  Constitution.     All  dues  and  assessments  must 

15  be  paid  for  the  month  in  which  the  withdrawal 

16  card  is  issued. 

17  Sec.  6.     Local  unions  of  the  Federation  shall 

18  have    full   jurisdiction   over   all   members    em- 

19  ployed  in  the  jurisdiction  of  their  locals,  sub- 

20  ject,  however,  to  the  right  of  appeal  described 

21  in  Section  2,  Article  XI,  of  the  Constitution. 

22  Sec.   7.     Local  unions   shall   have   power   to 

23  name  the  amount  to  be   collected   as  a  rein- 

24  statement  fee   from   members   six   months    or 

25  more  in  arrears  for  dues  and  assessments. 

26  Sec.  8.     Secretaries  shall  place  due  stamps 

27  on  members*  cards  for  back  dues  collected  for 

28  reinstatement  or  otherwise. 

Interchangeable  Cards. 

29  Sec.  9.     Transfer  cards  and  withdrawal  cards 

30  issued    by    any    chartered    labor    organization 

31  shall  be  accepted  by  local  unions  of  the  West- 

32  ern  Federation  of  Miners,  subject  to  the  rules 

33  and  qualifications  governing  members  of  such 

34  locals  of  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners. 

Transfer. 

35'      Sec.   10.     Any  member  leaving  the  jurisdic- 

36  tion  of  his  union  and  going  to  work  in  the  juris- 

37  diction  of  another  union  of  the  Federation  shall 

23 


1  deposit  his  membership  card  with  the  Finan- 

2  cial  Secretary  within  fifteen  days  after  going 

3  to  work  and  pay  all  arrearages.    The  Financial 

4  Secretary    receiving    a    member's    card,    shall 

5  within  fifteen  days  notify  the  union  in  which 

6  the  member  has  a  card  so  that  the  member's 

7  account  can  be  closed  in  the  former  union.    All 

8  arrearages   collected   other  than   local   assess- 

9  ment,  shall  belong  to  the  union  receiving  the 

10  membership  card,  and  all  advance  dues  which 

11  may  have  been  paid  shall  be  remitted,  provided, 

12  however,   that   no   advance   dues   shall   be    re- 

13  quested   for   the   month   in   which   transfer   is 

14  made.    Any  member  in  good  standing  transfer- 

15  ring  from  one  local  to  another  within  fifteen 

16  days  after  going  to  work  in  the  jurisdiction  of 

17  the  other  local,  upon  signing  the  Constitution 

18  of  the  local  union  in  which  the  transfer  is  made 

19  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  benefits 

20  of  that  local.    When  a  member  of  a  local  union 

21  goes  to  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of  another 

22  local  and  fails  to  deposit  his  card  within  fifteen 

23  days  after  going  to  work,  he  shall  lose  all  of 

24  his  rights  and  benefits  in  the  union  in  which  he 

25  holds  membership. 

26  Sec.   11.     Any   member  working  within   the 

27  jurisdiction  of  a  local  union  and  refusing  to  de- 

28  posit  his  card,  shall  be  subject  to  a  fine  of  not 

29  less  than  $1.00  nor  more  than  $50.00,  said  fine 

30  to  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  local  union. 

31  Sec.  12.     When  a  member  of  a  local  union 

32  goes  to  work  within  the  jurisdiction  of  another 

33  and  refuses  to  deposit  his  card,  it  shall  be  its 

34  duty  to  place  a  fine  against  him  and  suspend 

35  him  from  any  benefits  whatsoever.    Any  Secre- 

36  tary  accepting  dues  from  a  member  who  is  in 

37  the  jurisdiction  of  another  local  shall  be  sub- 

38  ject  to  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $1.00  nor  more 

39  $5.00. 

24 


ARTICLE  XIII. 
Supplies. 

1  Section  1.    All  withdrawal  and  notification 

2  cards  of  the  Federation  snail  be  made  of  uni- 

3  form  size,  with  stub  attachment. 

4  Sec.  2.    The  Federation  has  adopted,  for  the 

5  sake    of    uniformity,    the    following    supplies, 

6  which  must  be  procured  from  the  ^ecretary- 

7  Treasurer,  except  in  the  Dominion  of  Canada, 

8  where  blanks  shall  be  printed  to  conform  with 

9  the  laws  and  usages  of  that  country,  as  well 

10  as  in  conformity  with  this   Constitution,   and 

11  that  the  same  may  be  printed  in  the  Dominion 

12  of    Canada,    viz.:      Constitutions,    withdrawal 

13  cards,     notification     cards,     quarterly     report 

14  blanks,  blank  bonus  for  officers  of  unions,  ap- 

15  plication  blanks,   ledger,   day   book  and   cash 

16  book,  and  tnat  it  be  imperative  on  the  part  of 

17  all  locals  to  use  this  system  of  bookkeeping. 

18  Provided,  all  membership  cards  and  the  auth- 

19  orized  metal  emblem  of  the  Federation  shall  be 

20  procured  from  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the 

21  Federation. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 

Nominations,   Elections  and    Installation   of 
Officers. 

22  Sec.    1.     Nominations    of    officers    in    local 

23  unions  shall  be  made  from  the  floor.    Nomina- 

24  tions  shall  remain  open  for  three  regular  meet- 

25  ings  prior  to   election,   when   each  Recording 

26  Secretary    shall,    within    ten    days    thereafter, 

27  forward  the  names  of  all  officers  elected  to  the 

28  Secretary-Treasurer    of    the    Federation,    who 

29  shall    compile   a   directory    of   the    same    and 

30  forward   a  copy  of  these   directories   to   each 

31  local   union.     It   shall   be   optional   with   each 

32  local  union  as  to  whether  it  shall  hold  annual 

25 


1  or  semiannual  elections.     Installation  of  offi- 

2  cers  for  local  unions  shall  not  ^ake  place  until 

3  the  first  meeting  in  July  or  in  January. 

Balloting. 

4  Sec.  2.     All  unions  shall,  on  the  demand  of 

5  five  or  more  members  in  good  standing,  take  a 

6  secret  ballot  upon  any  question  coming  before 

7  the  union. 

8  Sec.    3.    All    ballots    shall    be    uniform    and 

9  names  of  all  candidates  shall  be  placed  on  one 

10  ballot. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Jurisdiction. 

11  Section  1.     The  jurisdiction  of  the  Federa- 

12  tion  shall  extend  to  all  states  and  territories 

13  and  the  Dominion  of  Canada. 

District  Unions. 

14  Sec.  2.      Where  a  majority  of  members  vot- 

15  ing  in  a  district  or  state  deem  it  necessary, 

16  they  may  organize  a  district  or  state  union  for 

17  the  purpose  of  doing  business  for  the  district 

18  or  state.    Such  unions  shall  apply  to  the  Fed- 

19  eration  for,  and  receive  a  special  charter,  said 

20  charter  to  be  issued  at  cost.     Such  district  or 

21  state  union  shall  be  subordinate  to  the  Feder- 

22  ation,  but  shall  be  a  higher  authority  than  the 

23  local  unions  of  the  Federation  in  its  jurisdic- 

24  tion.    All  local  unions  of  the  Federation  with- 

25  in  the  jurisdiction  of  a  district  or  state  union 

26  shall   be  a  member  of  said   district  or   state 

27  union  and  recognize  the  authority  of  same. 

Defunct  Unions. 

28  Sec.  3.    When  any  local  union  has  a  mera- 

29  bership   of   less   than   ten   members    in   good 


1  standing,  the  charter  of  such  local  may  be  con- 

2  sidered  defunct,  and  surrender  its  charter  and 

3  books  to  the  Federation;   and  any  member  of 

4  the  said  union  becoming  desirous   of  joining 

5  another  union   of  the  Western  Federation  of 

6  Miners  shall,  by  paying  the  dues  and  assess- 

7  ments  he  owed  in  his  former  union  up  to  the 

8  time  the  books  were  turned  over  to  the  Fed- 

9  eration,  be  transferred  to  the  union  to  which 

10  he  makes  application. 

11  Sec.  4.     The  property  of  defunct  unions  shall 

12  be  held  in  trust  by  the  Federation,  and  where 

13  local  unions   are  reorganized  within  a  period 

14  of   one   year,    comprising   of   twenty   or   more 

15  members  of  the  former  local  the  property  so 

16  held  in  trust  shall  be  returned  to  the  reorgan- 

17  ized  local,  but  when  the  locals  are  reorganized 

18  with  less  than  twenty  members  of  the  former 
Ij^  local,  they  shall  have  no  claim  on  the  property 

20  of  the  defunct  union.    At  the  expiration  of  one 

21  year  from  the  date  of  the  local  going  defunct 

22  the  property  shall  cease  to  be  held  in  trust  and 

23  become  the  property  of  the  Federation. 

24  Sec.  5.    Where  two  or  more  locals  are  situ- 

25  ated  in  the  same  locality  or  district,  and  one  or 

26  more  locals  become  weakened  by  loss  of  mem- 

27  bers   or  otherwise,   they  may,   by   a  majority 

28  vote  of  each  local  interested,  consolidate.    All 

29  money  and  property  shall  belong  to  the  union 

30  so  consolidated,  except  the  charter  or  charters 

31  of  the  locals  ceasing  to  exist,  said  charters  to 

32  be    forwarded    to    headquarters    immediately. 

33  The  unions  so  consolidated  shall  be  held  for 

34  all  existing  indebtedness. 

ARTICLE  XVI. 

35  Section   1.     Each   local   Financial    Secretary 

36  must  keep  a  record  of  all  members  that  are 

37  expelled  from  local  unions,  and  when  a  person 

38  is  proposed  for  admittance  into  any  local  of 

27 


1  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  the  Finan- 

2  cial  Secretary  must  first  look  at  the  list  re- 

3  ported  by  the  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  Fed- 

4  eration  and  then  report  to  his  union  the  result 

5  of  his  investigation. 

Correspondence. 

6  Sec.  2.     Each   Secretary  of  the  local  union 

7  shall  be  required  to  keep  a  copy  of  all  cor- 

8  respondence  in  a  copying  book  suitable  for  that 

9  purpose. 

ARTICLE  XVIII. 

Fines  and   Penalties. 

10  Section   1.     Any  member  who  is   under  the 

11  influence  of  liquor,  appearing  as  a  delegate  at 

12  any  convention  of  the  Western  Federation  of 

13  Miners,  or  failing  to  answer  roll  call  without 

14  being  excused  by  the  President,  shall  be  fined 

15  for  the  first  offense  the  sum  of  one  dollar;  for 

16  the  second  offense  the  sum  of  two  dollars;  for 

17  the  third  offense  the  sum  of  five  dollars,  and 

18  any  delegate  or  delegates  who  shall  have  been 

19  guilty  of  such  an  offense  shall  be  censured  and 

20  reprimanded  by  the  President,  and  the  union 

21  to  which  he  or  they  may  belong  shall  be  noti- 

22  fied  of  his  action. 


2. 


ARTICLE  XIX. 

Legislation. 

1  Section    1.    The   initiative    and    referendum 

2  shall  govern  all  legislation.    Whenever  a  local 

3  in  good  standing,  uelegate  or  delegation  in  con- 

4  vention  shall,  by  resolution,  offer  an  amend- 

5  ment  to  the  Constitution,  the  same   shall  be 

6  considered  in  the  biennial  convention,  and  by 

7  that  body  submitted  to  the   members  of  the 

8  Western  Federation  of  Miners,  who  shall  vote 

9  upon  the  same  within  sixty  days.     All  locals 

10  voting  on  a  referendum  shall  use — 

11  First:     A  blank  record  sheet  for  the  names 

12  of  all  members  voting; 

13  Second:     Printed  ballots  with  the  questions 

14  fully  stated  upon  them,  with  the  spaces,  so  as 

15  to  vote  for  or  against  any  question; 

16  Third:     That    envelopes    containing    record 

17  sheets  with  names,  report  blanks,  with  totals 

18  of    votes    cast    for    or    against    all    questions, 

19  should  contain  no  other  matter,  and  the  word 

20  "referendum"  should  be  marked  upon  the  en- 

21  velope  and  the  same  shall  not  be  opened  until 

22  the   date   set   for   compiling   the   votes    of   all 

23  locals. 

24  After  having  received  the  approval  of  a  ma- 

25  jority  of  the  members  voting  upon  the  ques- 

26  tion,  it  shall  receive  the  signature  of  the  Presi- 

27  dent  and  Secretary-Treasurer,  and  becomes  a 

28  part  of  the  organic  law.    The  Secretary-Treas- 

29  urer  shall  canvass  the  vote  on  all  referendum 

30  questions  and  make  up  a  return  sheet,  setting 

31  forth  the  vote  of  each  local,  and   furnish  all 

32  locals  with  a  copy  of  the  same. 

ARTICLE  XX. 

Emergencies. 

33  Section  1.    Whenever  a  vital  circumstance, 

29 


1  not    otherwise    provided    for,    arises    and    the 

2  same  cannot  in  justice  be  deferred  until  the 

3  assembling  of  the   convention,   the   Executive 

4  Board  may  submit  any  important  question  so 

5  arising  to  a  referendum  vote  of  the  entire  mem- 

6  bership  in  good  standing,  in  the  manner  de- 

7  scribed  in  Section  1,  Article  XIX.  The  majority 

8  of  such  vote  to  govern  in  all  cases  submitted. 

9  Sec.  2.    Whenever  a  proposition  of  vital  im- 

10  portance  presents  itself  to  the  membership  of 

11  the  W.  F.  M.,  not  otherwise  provided  for,  the 

12  Executive  Board  shall,  on  demand  of  ten  or 

13  more  locals,  submit  all  such  matters  pertaining 

14  to    such    proposition    to    a    referendum    vote 

15  through  the  Secretary-Treasurer,  not  later  than 

16  fifteen    days    after   receipt   thereof;    provided 

17  that  no  such  referendum   shall  be   submitted 

18  which  is   a  reversal  of  a   former  referendum 

19  within  one  year.     The  majority  of  such  vote 

20  shall  be  binding  on  all  parties  concerned. 

21  Sec.     3.     This     Constitution     shall     not     be 

22  amended  except  by  a  majority  vote  of  all  dele- 

23  gates  assembled  in  convention  or  by  initiative 

24  petition  adopted  at  three  regular  meetings  of 

25  at  least  ten  locals  of  this  organization,  repre- 

26  senting  at   least   five   per   cent  of  the   whole 

27  membership,  the  same  to  be  approved  by  refer- 

28  endum  vote  as  described  in  Section  1,  Article 

29  XIX. 


ao 


ORDER  OF  BUSINESS 

1.  Call  the  meeting  to  order. 

2.  Warden,  secure  the  v^oor. 

3.  Presentation  of  credentials. 

4.  Appointment  of  committees. 

5.  Roll  call. 

6  Reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting. 

7.  Communications  and  correspondence. 

8.  Bills. 

9.  Reports  of  officers. 

10.  Reports  of  standing  committees. 

if.  Special  committees. 

12.  Unfinished  business. 

13.  New  business. 

14.  Election  of  officers. 

15.  Good  and  welfare  of  the  Federation. 

16.  Installation  of  officers. 

17.  Adjournment. 


31 


RULES  OF  ORDER 


1  During  the   continuance   of   the   meeting   si- 

2  lence  must  be  observed,  the  officers  and  mem- 

3  bers  retaining  their  respective  seats,  and  no 

4  one  leaving  the   room  without   permission  of 

5  the  President  or  Vice-President. 

6  No  member  shall,  by  conversation  or  other- 

7  wise,  interrupt  the  business  of  the  Federation 

8  or  refuse  to  obey  the  chair. 

9  The   President,    while    presiding,    will    state 

10  every  question  coming  before  the  Federation, 

11  and   immediately  before  putting  it  to  a  vote 

12  shall  ask:   "Are  you  ready  for  the  question?" 

13  Should  no  member  rise  to  speak,  or  by  silence 

14  indicate  their  readiness,  he  shall  rise  to  state 

15  the  question,  and  after  he  has  risen  no  member 

16  shall  be  permitted  to  speak  upon  it.    He  shall 

17  announce  the  result  or  decision  of  the  Feder- 

18  ation  upon  all  subjects. 

19  Every  member,  when  he  speaks  or  offers  a 

20  motion,  shall  rise  and  respectfully  address  the 

21  presiding  officer.    While  speaking  he  shall  con- 

22  fine  himself  to  the  subject  under  debate,  avoid- 

23  ing  all  personalities  and  indecorous  language, 

24  as  well  as  any  reflections  upon  the  union  or  its 

25  members. 

26  Should  two  or  more  members  rise  to  speak 

27  at  the  same  time,  the  chair  shall  decide  who  is 

28  entitled  to  the  floor. 

29  No    member    shall    disturb    another    in    his 

30  speech  unless  to  call  him  to  order  for  words 

31  spoken. 

32  If  a  member,  while  speaking,  shall  be  called 

33  to  order,  at  the  request  of  the  chair,  he  shall 

34  cease   speaking   and   take   his   seat   until   the 

32 


1  question  of  order  is  determined,  when,  if  per- 

2  mitted,  he  may  again  proceed. 

3  No  member  shall  speak  more  than  once  on 

4  the  same  question  until  all  the  members  wish- 

5  ing  to  speak  shall  have  had  the  opportunity  to 

6  do  so,  nor  more  than  twice  without  the  per- 

7  mission  of  the  chair. 

8  When  any  communication,  petition  or  mem- 

9  orial  is   presented,   before  it   is   read   a   brief 

10  statement  of  its  contents  shall  be  made  by  the 

11  introducer  to  the  chair. 

12  No  motion  shall, be  subject  to  action  unless 

13  seconded  and  stated  by  the  chair. 

14  Any  member  may  call  for  a  division  on  a 

15  question  when  the  sense  will  admit  it. 

16  When   a  question  is   before  the   Federation 

17  no  motion  shall  be  received  unless  to  close  the 

18  previous  question,  to  lay  on  the  table,  to  post- 
19  pone  indefinitely,  to  refer,  to  amend,  and  shall 

20  have  precedence  in  the  order  herein  arranged 

21  — the   first   three   of   which   shall   be   decided 

22  without  debate. 

23  After  any  question,  except  one  of  indefinite 

24  postponement  or  one  the  result  of  which  the 

25  Federation  cannot  reverse,  has  been  decided, 

26  any  member  who  voted  in  the  majority  may,  at 

27  the   same    meeting    move    a    reconsideration 

28  thereof. 

29  No    amendments    shall    be    received    except 

30  they  are  in  writing. 

31  All  questions  not  provided  for  by  the  Con- 

32  stitution,  By-Laws,  Rules  of  Order,  or  by  the 

33  General  Laws  of  the  Federation,  shall  be  de- 

34  termined  by  a  majority  of  the  members  at  a 

35  regular  meeting. 

36  These  rules  may  be  suspended  for  a  special 

37  purpose  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 

38  bers  present. 

39  Roberts*  Rules   of  Orders   shall   govern  the 

40  proceedings  of  the  Federation  in  the  absence 

41  of  any  rules  not  herein  provided  for. 

33 


INDEX 


Page 

Organization    and    Objects 3 

Convention     3-5 

Pay  of  Delegates 5 

Nomination    and    Election    of    Officers,    Executive 

Board,  and  A.   F.   of  L.   Delegates 5-8 

Recall    of   Officers 8 

Duties    of    President 8-10 

Duties    of    Vice-President 10 

Duties  of   Secretary-Treasurer 10-12 

Executive  Board  and  Duties  of 12-14 

Auditors'   Appointment  and   Duty   of 14 

Reports  of  A.  F.  of  K  Delegates 14-15 

Revenues  and   Disbursements 15 

Penalty  for  Violation  of  Stamp  System 15 

Reinstatement  Stamps    15 

Official   Journal    16 

Strikes    and   Adjustment 16-17 

Wage  Agreements   17  and  21 

New^  Unions  and  Jurisdiction 'of 18 

Penalties 18 

Duties  and  Privileges   of  Members 19-21 

Trial  by  Local  Union : 19-20 

Trial  by  Convention 20 

Probation  Members    20-21 

Foreman  and  Shift  Bosses 21 

Unemployed  Assessment  Stamps 21 

Receipts   and   Accounts 22 

Password    22 

Membership   Card    22 

Withdrawal  Cards   22-23 

Reinstatement    28 

Interchangeable  Cards   23 

Transfer    23-24 

Supplies    25 

Nomination,  Election  of  Local  Union  Officers.  .25-26 

Balloting    26 

Jurisdiction  of  Federation 26 

District  Unions    26 

Defunct    Unions    26-27 

Expelled  Members,  Record  of 27-28 

Correspondence    of    Locals 28 

Fines  and  Penalties  of  Delegates 28 

legislation    29 

Emergencies    by    Legislation 29-30 

Constitution,   How  amended s 30 

Order   of   Business 31 

Rules    of  Order S2-33 


5 


